Top Fantasy Football Stories for Week 9: Bills and Panthers' Receivers, Browns' RBs, Traded Wideouts and More
These are all the top stories and headlines that you should be following in Week 9.
How is the New-Look Buffalo Bills Wide Receivers Room Going to Take Shape?
One of the most common topics fantasy owners have been debating this week is which Bills wideout should be started.
The assumption is that Amari Cooper will inevitably be the receiver to start, especially after a solid team debut in Week 7. However, he followed that up finishing as the team's sixth-best pass-catcher in Week 8, reeling in just one of his two targets for three yards. Consistency has never been Cooper's strength, but now we have to reconsider who the best option in this WRs corps is.
Last week, Khalil Shakir led the team in targets, receptions, and yards, catching nine of his 10 targets for 107 yards. Keon Coleman caught five of his seven targets for 70 yards but also found the end zone.
Their tight end duo also enters this equation as well. They combined for six catches on nine targets for 81 yards and a TD. All of these wideouts are going to be started and some owners are going to be happy, while others are left sad. This is a situation we will have to monitor to see who emerges as the best fantasy option.
Who is Going to Catch Passes in Carolina?
The Panthers are running out of bodies to play wide receiver. Things are already tough with Bryce Young under center, but that won't stop fantasy owners from trying to find value in this group.
Jalen Coker has emerged as a popular name after going off for 78 yards and a TD last week. Another reason why his name is being brought up so much is because there is simply no one else left.
Diontae Johnson has been shipped to Baltimore, Adam Thielen has been ruled out, and rookie Xavier Legette is in danger of sitting out this week with an injury as well. Young is yet to find his guy that he can grow with as a young QB and there is a chance that Coker could become a flex option down the stretch for receiver-needy teams.
What Will the Browns' Rushing Attack Look Like with Jerome Ford Back?
Jerome Ford has been inactive due to a hamstring injury since Nick Chubb returned from the injured reserve. Chubb hasn't been particularly impressive in his return, however, he is at least seeing volume and has some TD upside.
Prior to his injury, Ford was seeing the bulk of the carries and could be just as good as Chubb at this point in their careers. We have no idea how running back snaps or touches will be distributed now that both backs are healthy.
Pierre Strong also factors in as a pass-catcher as well. At this point, we don't know if any back can be started in Cleveland moving forward. This is a situation to monitor closely in Week 9.
Battle of the Backups in Pats vs. Titans Game, Can you Start Anyone?
It sounds like both Drake Maye and Will Levis are trending towards being inactive this week due to injury. This leaves Jacoby Brissett and Mason Rudolph to call the plays with extremely limited weapons around them.
Brissett will have to lean on Rhamondre Stevenson and DeMario Douglas while the Titans situation may somehow be even worse. Tyjae Spears has been ruled out and it looks like Tony Pollard may be heading in that direction as well.
DeAndre Hopkins has already been shipped out of town, leaving them with Calvin Ridley and not much else. The only two players you can really even consider starting are Stevenson and Ridley, and neither has a good matchup. This may be the rare game that fantasy owners just completely throw out and don't start anyone.
Will Wideouts on New Teams Adapt?
We already mentioned Cooper and the Bills, but there are a number of other wideouts who have been traded or will be impacted by trades that we need to get a strong read on. Hopkins and Johnson will look to establish themselves on AFC powerhouses in Kansas City and Baltimore. These are the types of moves that can be the difference in a Super Bowl or fantasy football championship.
We also have to figure out how these moves affect their new teammates like Zay Flowers and Xavier Worthy. Also, who steps up on the teams that they left behind? Guys like Cedric Tillman, Calvin Ridley, and Jalen Coker could end up being league winners or at least valuable fantasy assets. Trades are becoming more common place in today's NFL and it gives us a lot more to monitor and think about throughout the fantasy season.
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